Hook happy to play anywhere

11 July 2011 16:28

By Simon Rimmer

Wales star James Hook likes playing against England. Hook's record against the English national side reads two wins from four attempts in his 52-cap career to date, but he produced man-of-the-match performances on both home and away soil for the victories.

Wales face double World Cup warm-up fixtures against England next month, at Twickenham on 6 August and then back home at the Millennium Stadium a week later, and Hook, together with many of his colleagues, will be able to call on recent memories of victory at both venues.

In 2008 Hook kick-started Wales' second Grand Slam year in four seasons when he sealed a 26-19 victory at Twickenham, with a touchline conversion of a 67th minute Lee Byrne try - a try which the former Osprey had himself created.

A year earlier Hook, who has recently signed for French club Perpignan, went through the card in the final RBS 6 Nations match of 2007, to give then coach Gareth Jenkins a 27 -18 victory at the Millennium Stadium.

Before 2008 Wales had not won at Twickenham for 20 years, a statistic Hook knew all about at the time, as he had been keenly watching for most of them.

"Growing up, Wales versus England was always the game you looked forward to and the one you watched most keenly," said Hook. "It's something about the historic rivalry between our two nations that just creates a unique atmosphere every time we play.

"I don't think it's just me, I think the whole of the squad and probably the whole of Wales enjoys the rivalry we have.

"It goes right back to when I was a youngster watching the games, I've always been rugby mad and dreamed of playing for my country against England one day.

"So when you actually get out on the pitch against them it's special. I've always liked the rivalry and the atmosphere of local derbies and the England game is just the same.

"I always enjoy playing against them and I seem to have done alright in the past. I've got fond memories from the game at Twickenham in 2008.

"I started at fly-half that day in Warren (Gatland's) first Six Nations match in charge and enjoyed myself. The year before, under Gareth Jenkins, we had done well against them in the match at the Millennium Stadium.

"As it happens I finished on the winning side and with the man-of-the-match award in both games, which is definitely something I'm proud of."

Hook has started against England on two other occasions, earlier this season (2011) and in the 2010 Championships, when he has also sampled the disappointment of defeat.

"We were extremely disappointed to lose to England last year", said Hook. "But I was happy with the way things went against Scotland and Ireland.

"Obviously we then lost against France and it didn't go that well overall for us as a team that day. I had the charge down as well, which was gutting from a personal point of view, but we have put that game behind us.

"It's a new season now and I intend to work as hard as possible to keep my place."

As the fastest Welshman to reach 50 caps, Hook is a senior member of the squad already and looking to go to his second World Cup at the age of just 26.

He has just sealed a life-changing move for him and his family to France to play Top 14 rugby with Perpignan, where he is hoping to be selected as a fly-half, but he remains adamant the number on his back is not important to him when it comes to representing his country.

"I actually started out as a scrum-half and didn't go to '10' until I was 18," Hook continued. "In my mind's eye as a youngster I didn't have a number on my back when I watched those clashes against England and dreamed of being out there.

"I like the fly-half position, but I am being genuine when I say I don't mind where I am asked to play for my country.

"There are one or two shirts on my wall at home that my wife, Kim, has had framed and put up there for me and they don't all have '10' on the back by any stretch - there are definitely some '12's and '13's as well and every jersey is special.

"It's fair to say I'd like to keep hold of a starting spot for Wales if I can, in whatever position, but I do hope to be playing there next year when I go to France (Perpignan)."

Hook was speaking from Poland on the final day of Wales' 10-day camp at the Olympic training venue in Spala.

The 42-man training squad will now undergo a five day rest period before returning to Poland for another 10-day stint from 16 July in preparation for the RWC warm up fixtures against England (twice, home and away) and then Argentina on 20 August.

And Hook is single-minded in his focus on Wales' RWC campaign.

"None of us can look past that second camp in Poland and we are all vying for selection for those matches against England and Argentina," added Hook.

"Going to France is right at the back of my mind at the moment. I have the practical things sorted, so the rest will just take care of itself and I don't need to worry about it.

"We've already found a house to rent out there whilst we get settled in, and the whole family is coming straight out there with me.

"I will look forward to it when the time comes, but I'm also going to be a little bit nervous about it all and that first game against Welsh opposition is going to be strange.

"As soon as I saw the Amlin Challenge Cup draw the fixture with the Dragons jumped out at me and Aled Brew also rang me to point it out.

"They've always given the Ospreys a tough time down at Rodney Parade when I went there with them and I've enjoyed the rivalry over the years.

"Hopefully, I'll get more joy out of them going back there with Perpignan, but I certainly won't be taking anything for granted and there is plenty of rugby to be played before I need to be thinking about that."

Conditions at the training camp in Spala, where the players have been using the Cryotherapy chambers, basically allow what would normally be deemed two intense days consecutive training in one 14 hour period.

Tickets to the Wales v England Rugby World Cup warm-up match at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 13 August (kick off 2.30pm) are priced £30 and tickets to the Wales v Argentina on Saturday, 20 August (kick of 2.30pm) are priced at £25 and are on a 'buy one get one free' promotion.

Fans can also purchase their tickets for the Millennium Stadium clashes offer online at www.wru.co.uk/tickets or by calling the ticket hotlines 08442 777 888 or 02920 230130 or at local Tesco stores

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